Dahlia plant named ‘Dodahacax’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Dodahacax’, characterized by its broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; strong branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large double-type inflorescences with purplish red and reddish orange bi-colored ray florets; good postproduction longevity; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dahlia variabilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DODAHACAX’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dodahacax’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Dahlia plants that have a freely branching and flowering habit, dark-colored leaves, large attractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Dahlia plant originated from a cross-pollination during the autumn of 2016 in De Lier, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number DA-1555, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilis identified as code number DA-0419, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands during the summer of 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since the autumn of 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dodahacax’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dodahacax’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate         growth rate.     -   3. Strong branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large double-type inflorescences with purplish red and         reddish orange bi-colored ray florets.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.     -   8. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Dahlia are purplish red and         reddish orange bi-colored whereas ray florets of plants of the         female parent selection are peachy orange in color.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more vigorous than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Dahlia are purplish red and         reddish orange bi-colored whereas ray florets of plants of the         male parent selection are red and white bi-colored.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia variabilis ‘XXL Berry Blast’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of ‘XXL Berry Blast’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are larger than plants of ‘XXL Berry         Blast’.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia have larger and darker green-         colored leaves and leaflets than plants of ‘XXL Berry Blast’.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia have larger and taller         inflorescences than plants of ‘XXL Berry Blast’.     -   4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are double-types         whereas inflorescences of plants of ‘XXL Berry Blast’ are single         and double-types.     -   5. Ray florets of plants of the new Dahlia are purplish red and         reddish orange bi-colored whereas ray florets of plants of ‘XXL         Berry Blast’ are reddish purple and white bi-colored.     -   6. Plants of the new Dahlia have longer peduncles than plants of         ‘XXL Berry Blast’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dodahacax’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial potted Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 22° C. and light levels were at least 135 watt/m². Plants were pinched one time about four weeks after sticking unrooted cuttings. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photograph was taken and eleven weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘Dodahacax’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             variabilis identified as code number DA-1555, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             variabilis identified as code number DA-0419, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 20° C. to 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 3.5 weeks at             temperatures about 20° C. to 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             whitish grey in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots; tuber             development has not been observed on plants of the new             Dahlia.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and uniformly             mounding plant form; broad inverted triangle; moderately             freely basal branching habit with about four primary lateral             branches developing per plant, each primary lateral branch             with about two to four secondary branches; pinching enhances             lateral branch development; inflorescences held above the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; bushy and dense habit;             moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 33 cm             to 37 cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 45             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 27 cm. Diameter: About             8.6 mm. Internode length: About 5.8 cm. Aspect: Mostly             upright to slightly outwardly spreading. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Color: Close to 143A; with development, color             becoming closer to 143B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; leaves may be single or compound with             typically three to five leaflets.         -   Leaf length.—About 24 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 29 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 10 cm to 14 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 8.4 cm.         -   Leaf and leaflet shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaf and leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf and leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaf and leaflet margin.—Dentate; indentations medium in             depth and divergent.         -   Leaf and leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaf and leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy.         -   Leaf and leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth,             glabrous; matte.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves and leaflets,             upper surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to 137C.             Developing and fully expanded leaves and leaflets, lower             surface: Close to N138C; venation, close to N138B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 6.3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Double inflorescence form with             ray florets forming acropetally on a receptacle;             inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane on strong             peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright; freely             flowering habit with about eight to twelve open             inflorescences per plant at one time.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from spring until             late summer in The Netherlands; early flowering habit,             plants begin flowering about ten to twelve weeks after             sticking unrooted cuttings.         -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about two to three weeks on the plant;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Shape: Globular. Texture and luster: Smooth; glossy.             Color: Close to 144B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 12 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.45 cm. Receptacle             height: About 4 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Receptacle color: Close to 144B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 80 to 90             arranged in about six to eight whorls. Length: About 7 cm to             8 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Obtuse.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Initially upright to             roughly perpendicular to the peduncle; somewhat concave and             twisting. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 30D and 63B. When opening, lower surface: Close to             29B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 30B and 63B;             venation, close to 30B and 63B; colors do not change with             subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 29B and 63D; venation, close to 16D and 62D; colors do             not change with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 60 to 80.             Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Tubular,             elongated; apices obtuse. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color, when opening and fully opened, inner             and outer surfaces: Close to 1B.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About six arranged             in a single whorl. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 11 cm. Diameter,             terminal peduncle: About 4 mm. Aspect: Mostly erect to             slightly outwardly. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 137B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity per floret: One. Filament length:             About 6 mm. Filament color: Close to 12B. Anther size: About             1 mm by 2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 17A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Present on             disc florets only. Pistil quantity per floret: One. Pistil             length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color:             Close to 144D. Stigma diameter: Less than 1 mm. Stigma             shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 17B. Ovary color: Close             to 145C. Seeds: To date, seed development has not been             observed on plants of the new Dahlia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Dahlia have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Dahlia plants. -   Temperature tolerance & garden performance: Plants of the new Dahlia     tolerate high temperatures about 35° C. and short periods of low     temperatures about 5° to 10° C. Plants of the new Dahlia have been     observed to have good garden performance. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Dodahacax’ as illustrated and described. 